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Post by oldenough on Sept 13, 2007 18:48:26 GMT -5
SOMEWHERE ON THIS BOARD BEFORE I WENT THRU THE SONG AND DANCE TO GET ON IT AND REPLY, I READ SPECULATION THAT THERE WILL BE 175 NEW HIRES, AND THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME DESPAIR.
I WORK IN AN OFFICE WITH 14 JUDGES: TWO LEAVE THIS YEAR, AND BY SPRING 2009 IT APPEARS THREE MORE WILL BE GONE.
THIS ACTIVITY WILL BE REFLECTED COUNTRY WIDE AS THE OLDER OF US BAIL OUT.
THE COMMISH SEEMS TO THINK ADDING A COUPLE HUNDRED ALJS IS GOING TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING. HE IS NOT FACING THE FACT THAT HIS MOST RECENT EXERCISE, AND THE NEXT, WILL NOT EVEN KEEP PACE WITH THE BAIL-OUTS (NOT TO MENTION THE OCCASIONAL DEATH IN THE SADDLE).
UNLESS THEY CHANGE THE SYSTEM, OVER THE NEXT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS YOU ARE LIKELY TO SEE THE NEED FOR ABOUT 600 HIRES, IN MY ESTIMATION (I'M ONE OF THE BAILOUTS), JUST TO STAY EVEN.
SO BIDE YOUR TIME: THIS REGISTER WON'T BE THE LAST.
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Post by odarite on Sept 13, 2007 19:24:54 GMT -5
Oldenough is SO right. The Dep Commish has said as much. With an ALJ corps of 1250 at full strength (which is less than is needed at this moment) I think the number is 100 new hires per year just to keep the numbers at even keel. At the moment, the ALJ corps is not at full strength. the new hires in FY2008 will not even get the corps to full strength. So all you waiting in the wings, take heart. Your turn is almost certain to come.
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Post by cinderella on Sept 13, 2007 21:24:52 GMT -5
When you say bail out- do you mean retire or quit? I'm guessing retire, but wanted to make sure.
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Post by aljsouth on Sept 13, 2007 21:59:25 GMT -5
After the first 2 years very few ALJ's quit. Some do because they hate the work or the site, but most know it is a great job. After that is is retire "bail out" or die.
Our office has will have lost 3 judges in 3 to 4 years come early 08. Two retirements and one death. This is going to accelarate nationwide over the next few years. If congress passes an enhanced retirement bill then some may stay a little longer, but then the retirements will really multiply.
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Post by oldenough on Sept 13, 2007 22:00:30 GMT -5
RETIRE IS CORRECT; I ONLY EVER HEARD OF ONE GUY WHO QUIT, AND IT MAY BE APOCRYPHAL. ONE OF THE JUDGES IN MY OFFICE REPORTS THAT IN ONE TRAINING CLASS ONE OF THE NEW HIRES STOOD UP IN THE FIRST OR SECOND WEEK AND SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT THAT THIS IS RIDICULOUS, AND WALKED OUT TO RETURN TO PRIVATE PRACTICE.
THE JOB IS A CONSTANT TRIBULATION DUE TO TOXIC MANAGEMENT, BUT IT'S STILL THE BEST IN THE GOVERNMENT.
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Post by cinderella on Sept 13, 2007 22:14:20 GMT -5
I thought you probably meant retire, but I've never heard of retirement being described as bailing out!
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Post by ruonthelist on Sept 14, 2007 6:46:01 GMT -5
Oldenough makes a good point that is often lost sight of--as new judges come in experienced ones leave (horizontally or vertically, as the case may be). In his prepared statement for the May 1 House Ways & Means Subcommittee hearing (link below), Commissioner Astrue talked of wanting "a net increase of about 150 ALJs." To net 150 he will need substantially more than 150 new hires. waysandmeans.house.gov/hearings.asp?formmode=view&id=5843 |
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Post by zero on Sept 14, 2007 9:00:11 GMT -5
This was a really good exchange. We need more like this! Thanks guys for your great comments.
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Post by odarite on Sept 14, 2007 9:11:10 GMT -5
Oldenough makes a good point that is often lost sight of--as new judges come in experienced ones leave (horizontally or vertically, as the case may be). In his prepared statement for the May 1 House Ways & Means Subcommittee hearing (link below), Commissioner Astrue talked of wanting "a net increase of about 150 ALJs." To net 150 he will need substantially more than 150 new hires. True enough, but to do the training, etc., there are very real limits on how many they can hire how soon, even apart from the budget. Hiring has been relatively low the last few years, in part because of budget and in part because of the aging register. With a new register and increased funding, the pace may pick up, but it will still take several years to bring the corps up to 1250, between new hires and attrition. |
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Post by learnedhand on Sept 14, 2007 9:13:10 GMT -5
One new judge in our office left after a year. He wanted to transfer back to his home where his family had stayed. Despite the fact that there were 4 openings in that office, which was in the same region, the RCALJ wouldn't let him transfer so he finally gave up. Not sure whether he could have asked for a hardship transfer, but I don't believe he did.
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Post by ruonthelist on Sept 14, 2007 9:33:22 GMT -5
True enough, but to do the training, etc., there are very real limits on how many they can hire how soon, even apart from the budget. Hiring has been relatively low the last few years, in part because of budget and in part because of the aging register. With a new register and increased funding, the pace may pick up, but it will still take several years to bring the corps up to 1250, between new hires and attrition. You are right. The class of 2001 was about 130 people, but every other class that I am aware of, before and after, has been around 40-50. 2001 was a unique situation because of the Azdell stay. SSA rushed to hire a big class when they could. Having a class that big led to logistical problems that they won't want to repeat, and have not repeated since the Meeker decision. The process of making a net increase in judges, whatever the final figure is, will be done incrementally. ------- Are YOU on the list? |
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Post by nonamouse on Sept 14, 2007 9:52:13 GMT -5
IMO, once more offices transition to efiles, the exodus will pick up speed. My office lost one older ALJ and we have others who are struggling and plotting their retirement for the next few years.
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Post by chris on Sept 14, 2007 19:49:55 GMT -5
In the field in which I work (not ODAR), we have had significant legislative changes in the last few years. Many older practitioners are dropping like flies, both literally and figuratively. Lots of new things to learn and many of the older folks (60+) don't want to expend the energy to learn them. I'm sure that will be happening at ODAR also.
Can't say I blame them either.
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Post by deltajudge on Sept 18, 2007 20:04:10 GMT -5
I was with the agency for 30 years and don't mind telling you it was a good ride. Things really changed after I came on board, they took my unit away from me, so I had no staff, other than an office pool, and that was never enough. But let me tell you, did we get some details. California, Florida, Puerto Rico, Chicago, and Mississippi, not to mention Louisana. I went down to Baton Rouge for a detail, which was serviced by Alexandria. Talking to the wae I was working with there, and she told me the Alexandria ALJs were over in Dallas holding hearings over there. Go figure. When I was in Memphis, we were out of cases, and they had Puerto Rico ALJs holding hearings in Greenwood, MS, 100 miles south of us. That's the way it was, not proud of it, but we did it.
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Post by kingfisher on Sept 22, 2007 21:35:12 GMT -5
Oldenough makes a good point that is often lost sight of--as new judges come in experienced ones leave (horizontally or vertically, as the case may be). In his prepared statement for the May 1 House Ways & Means Subcommittee hearing (link below), Commissioner Astrue talked of wanting "a net increase of about 150 ALJs." To net 150 he will need substantially more than 150 new hires. waysandmeans.house.gov/hearings.asp?formmode=view&id=5843This is good reading, for any who have not seen it yet. As I recall, they said they planned to hire 150 new ALJs in October. So, everyone hang on. It's coming soon! |
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